What is SWaM?

SWaM

SWaM stands for Small, Women-Owned, and Minority-Owned businesses. The program was created to enhance business opportunities for SWaM certified businesses. To become certified, you must qualify and register with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD).

For more information on how to get certified with SBSD, please click here.

Small Business

A business that is at least 51% independently owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees, or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years. One or more of these individual owners shall control both the management and daily business operations of the small business.

Micro Business

A certified small business may qualify for a micro business certification if it meets the following criteria: the business is certified small through SBSD, has 25 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $3 million or less averaged over the previous three years.

Women-Owned Business

A business that is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51% of the equity ownership interest is owned by one or more women who are citizens of the United States or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Minority-Owned Business

A business that is at least 51% owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51% of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals.

Minority Individuals 

An individual who is a citizen of the United States or legal resident alien and who satisfies one or more of the following definitions:

1. 1. African American means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Africa and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
   2. Asian American means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Japan, China, Vietnam, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Northern Mariana, the Philippines, a U.S. territory of the Pacific, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
   3. Hispanic American means a person having origins in any of the Spanish-speaking peoples of Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
   4. Native American means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part or who is recognized by a tribal organization.